Challenging the Center (Santa Fe Bobcats #6)(67)

“Oh, come on, your cheek can’t hurt that bad. You can still chew,” Matt said, looking disgusted.

“I don’t think it has anything to do with his cheek.” Stephen’s grin grew slowly, maddeningly. “And has everything to do with a certain tennis skirt he wants his hands under.”

“Shut up,” Michael bit out, then turned to start getting dressed at his locker.

“Bring her.”

He looked over his shoulder at Stephen. “Right. Good call. Bring her into a sausage fest. Sounds great. Pass.”

“I meant, everyone should invite their partner of choice. I’m sure I don’t have to beg you to bring Cassie, do I, Owens?”

“You know I never need an excuse to bring Cassie anywhere.”

Michael mimed choking on vomit because it was expected to razz your friends when they acted like a lovesick puppy in the locker room.

“Man, remember the good old days when we could all have a nice dinner together, just the guys, and shoot the shit without women being there? Don’t you ever miss the freedom?” Matt asked wistfully.

Stephen and Trey looked at each other and grinned. “Nope.”

“She hasn’t met anyone yet, and I don’t want her to be overwhelmed.” He thought for a moment, then edited, “Hold up, she’s met Aileen, and they hit it off. Invite Killian and Aileen, and you’ve got a deal,” Michael decided.

Killian walked by at that moment, and Trey snagged his arm. “Dinner tonight, Harrison’s place. Bring Aileen.”

“Can’t. We’ve got Charlie.”

“You can bring him,” Stephen said automatically.

“Appreciate it, but we’ve already promised him a Marvel marathon tonight before he goes back with his mom tomorrow morning. Thanks though.” Killian smiled in appreciation. “Have fun.”

“He still isn’t very social,” Matt commented after a moment.

“But he’s let us in, and he’s not antisocial. There’s a difference,” Trey said firmly.

“Can I bring a few of the rooks?”

They all groaned, but Michael crossed his arms and stared at them in silence.

“Fine,” Stephen finally said, tossing his hands up. “Fine. Fuck it, whatever. Bring the babies, let them ruin a good time.”

“Hardly,” Michael said dryly.

“But ask them to come later. I want a little time with just you guys first.”

Michael nodded and got his phone out to text Kat.

Dinner out tonight with teammates, okay?

Yeah, sure thing. Have fun.

He smiled at that. No exclamation points? No emojis? She was annoyed.

Sorry, I meant we, together, are invited to have dinner with some teammates. Is that okay?

Oh.

He waited, watched the “typing” bubble pop up, then disappear. Then appear again.

Sure.

That made him chuckle as he tossed his phone back in his locker. She wanted to appear above needing social interaction, but she was the most social creature he’d ever met. She craved the human contact.

Which made her insistence on staying a singles player laughable, as far as he understood the game. Which was to say… not very well.

“What should we bring?” he asked Stephen as he pulled his shirt over his head.

“Beer.”

Trey looked over at Michael before glancing back at Stephen. They both quietly watched their friend and recovering alcoholic carefully.

He waited a beat, then cracked a smile. “Kidding, guys. I’m good. Seriously. No worries. It was a joke.”

“Asshole,” Trey muttered, punching at Stephen’s arm, but he was smiling.

“Get Josiah and Anya,” Michael suggested. “If they can come.”

“Anya’s gone.” Trey shrugged. “Cassie talks. Anya’s meeting up with someone in Phoenix, seeing if someone wants to set up a Chance to Dance branch in their area.”

Chance to Dance was Anya’s baby, her pet project, her true love… other than Josiah, obviously. She took donated formal gowns to local high schools and gave girls who otherwise would never be able to afford the outfits the chance to, well… dance.

“Well, she’s gone for a good reason then. Josiah can come hang with us and forget missing her for a few hours, because he’s an emotional wreck without her.”

“I heard that,” Josiah said from across the locker room.

“Good.” Michael grinned at Trey. Things felt like they were lining up… which was odd since before Kat showed up he’d never felt like anything was out of order. But the minute she’d walked into his life, things had suddenly felt unsettled.

As that was her fault, Michael considered it a bit of payback that she’d be the one to settle them again.



Kat stared at her meager wardrobe and debated what to wear to a Bobcat’s house.

Well, another Bobcat. She’d been over to Michael’s place often enough and hadn’t given a crap about what she wore. If she wore anything at all.

That brought a small smile to her lips, and she flipped through the five decent nongym-appropriate outfits she’d brought with her. One of which she’d already worn to the attorney’s office the week before with Michael.

That was a good meeting.